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History
Main article: History of basketball
Creation
In early December 1891, Canadian Dr. James Naismith,[4] a physical education professor and
instructor at the International Young Men's Christian Association Training School[5] (YMCA)
(today, Springfield College) in Springfield, Massachusetts, was trying to keep his gym class active on
a rainy day. He sought a vigorous indoor game to keep his students occupied and at proper levels of
fitness during the long New England winters. After rejecting other ideas as either too rough or poorly
suited to walled-in gymnasiums, he wrote the basic rules and nailed a peach basket onto a 10-foot
(3.0 m) elevated track. In contrast with modern basketball nets, this peach basket retained its
bottom, and balls had to be retrieved manually after each "basket" or point scored; this proved
inefficient, however, so the bottom of the basket was removed,[6] allowing the balls to be poked out
with a long dowel each time.
Basketball was originally played with a soccer ball. The first balls made specifically for basketball
were brown, and it was only in the late 1950s that Tony Hinkle, searching for a ball that would be
more visible to players and spectators alike, introduced the orange ball that is now in common use.
Dribbling was not part of the original game except for the "bounce pass" to teammates. Passing the
ball was the primary means of ball movement. Dribbling was eventually introduced but limited by the
asymmetric shape of early balls. Dribbling only became a major part of the game around the 1950s
as manufacturing improved the ball shape.
Frank Mahan, one of the players from the original first game, approached Naismith after the
Christmas break, in early 1892, asking him what he intended to call his new game. Naismith replied
that he hadn't thought of it because he had been focused on just getting the game started. Mahan
suggested that it be called "Naismith ball", at which he laughed, saying that a name like that would
kill any game. Mahan then said, "Why not call it basketball?" Naismith replied, "We have a basket
and a ball, and it seems to me that would be a good name for it."[12][13] The first official game was
played in the YMCA gymnasium in Albany, New York, on January 20, 1892, with nine players. The
game ended at 1–0; the shot was made from 25 feet (7.6 m), on a court just half the size of a
present-day Streetball or National Basketball Association (NBA) court.
At the time, football was being played with 10 to a team (which was increased to 11). When winter
weather got too icy to play football, teams were taken indoors, and it was convenient to have them
split in half and play basketball with five on each side. By 1897–1898 teams of five became
standard.
End of a match.
An attempt to unfairly disadvantage an opponent through certain types of physical contact is illegal
and is called a personal foul. These are most commonly committed by defensive players; however,
they can be committed by offensive players as well. Players who are fouled either receive the ball to
pass inbounds again, or receive one or more free throws if they are fouled in the act of shooting,
depending on whether the shot was successful. One point is awarded for making a free throw, which
is attempted from a line 15 feet (4.6 m) from the basket.
The referee is responsible for judging whether contact is illegal, sometimes resulting in controversy.
The calling of fouls can vary between games, leagues and referees.
There is a second category of fouls called technical fouls, which may be charged for various rules
violations including failure to properly record a player in the scorebook, or for unsportsmanlike
conduct. These infractions result in one or two free throws, which may be taken by any of the five
players on the court at the time. Repeated incidents can result in disqualification. A blatant foul
involving physical contact that is either excessive or unnecessary is called an intentional foul
(flagrant foul in the NBA). In FIBA, a foul resulting in ejection is called a disqualifying foul, while in
leagues other than the NBA, such a foul is referred to as flagrant.
If a team exceeds a certain limit of team fouls in a given period (quarter or half) – four for NBA,
NCAA women's, and international games – the opposing team is awarded one or two free throws on
all subsequent non-shooting fouls for that period, the number depending on the league. In the US
college men's game and high school games for both sexes, if a team reaches 7 fouls in a half, the
opposing team is awarded one free throw, along with a second shot if the first is made. This is called
shooting "one-and-one". If a team exceeds 10 fouls in the half, the opposing team is awarded two
free throws on all subsequent fouls for the half.
When a team shoots foul shots, the opponents may not interfere with the shooter, nor may they try
to regain possession until the last or potentially last free throw is in the air.
After a team has committed a specified number of fouls, the other team is said to be "in the bonus".
On scoreboards, this is usually signified with an indicator light reading "Bonus" or "Penalty" with an
illuminated directional arrow or dot indicating that team is to receive free throws when fouled by the
opposing team. (Some scoreboards also indicate the number of fouls committed.)
If a team misses the first shot of a two-shot situation, the opposing team must wait for the completion
of the second shot before attempting to reclaim possession of the ball and continuing play.
If a player is fouled while attempting a shot and the shot is unsuccessful, the player is awarded a
number of free throws equal to the value of the attempted shot. A player fouled while attempting a
regular two-point shot thus receives two shots, and a player fouled while attempting a three-point
shot receives three shots.
If a player is fouled while attempting a shot and the shot is successful, typically the player will be
awarded one additional free throw for one point. In combination with a regular shot, this is called a
"three-point play" or "four-point play" (or more colloquially, an "and one") because of the basket
made at the time of the foul (2 or 3 points) and the additional free throw (1 point).
Although the rules do not specify any positions whatsoever, they have evolved as part of basketball.
During the early years of basketball's evolution, two guards, two forwards, and one center were
used. In more recent times specific positions evolved, but the current trend, advocated by many top
coaches including Mike Krzyzewski is towards positionless basketball, where big guys are free to
shoot from outside and dribble if their skill allows it.[49] Popular descriptions of positions include:
Point guard (often called the "1") : usually the fastest player on the team, organizes the team's
offense by controlling the ball and making sure that it gets to the right player at the right time.
Shooting guard (the "2") : creates a high volume of shots on offense, mainly long-ranged; and
guards the opponent's best perimeter player on defense.
Small forward (the "3") : often primarily responsible for scoring points via cuts to the basket and
dribble penetration; on defense seeks rebounds and steals, but sometimes plays more actively.
Power forward (the "4"): plays offensively often with their back to the basket; on defense, plays
under the basket (in a zone defense) or against the opposing power forward (in man-to-man
defense).
Center (the "5"): uses height and size to score (on offense), to protect the basket closely (on
defense), or to rebound.
The above descriptions are flexible. For most teams today, the shooting guard and small forward
have very similar responsibilities and are often called the wings, as do the power forward and
center, who are often called post players. While most teams describe two players as guards, two as
forwards, and one as a center, on some occasions teams choose to call them by different
designations.
Strategy
Main article: Basketball playbook
There are two main defensive strategies: zone defense and man-to-man defense. In a zone
defense, each player is assigned to guard a specific area of the court. Zone defenses often allow the
defense to double team the ball, a manoeuver known as a trap. In a man-to-man defense, each
defensive player guards a specific opponent.
Offensive plays are more varied, normally involving planned passes and movement by players
without the ball. A quick movement by an offensive player without the ball to gain an advantageous
position is known as a cut. A legal attempt by an offensive player to stop an opponent from guarding
a teammate, by standing in the defender's way such that the teammate cuts next to him, is
a screen or pick. The two plays are combined in the pick and roll, in which a player sets a pick and
then "rolls" away from the pick towards the basket. Screens and cuts are very important in offensive
plays; these allow the quick passes and teamwork, which can lead to a successful basket. Teams
almost always have several offensive plays planned to ensure their movement is not predictable. On
court, the point guard is usually responsible for indicating which play will occur.
Shooting
Player releases a short jump shot, while her defender is either knocked down, or trying to "take a charge."
Shooting is the act of attempting to score points by throwing the ball through the basket, methods
varying with players and situations.
Typically, a player faces the basket with both feet facing the basket. A player will rest the ball on the
fingertips of the dominant hand (the shooting arm) slightly above the head, with the other hand
supporting the side of the ball. The ball is usually shot by jumping (though not always) and extending
the shooting arm. The shooting arm, fully extended with the wrist fully bent, is held stationary for a
moment following the release of the ball, known as a follow-through. Players often try to put a steady
backspin on the ball to absorb its impact with the rim. The ideal trajectory of the shot is somewhat
controversial, but generally a proper arc is recommended. Players may shoot directly into the basket
or may use the backboard to redirect the ball into the basket.
Basketball falling through hoop
The two most common shots that use the above described setup are the set shot and the jump shot.
The set shot is taken from a standing position, with neither foot leaving the floor, typically used for
free throws, and in other circumstances while the jump shot is taken in mid-air, the ball released
near the top of the jump. This provides much greater power and range, and it also allows the player
to elevate over the defender. Failure to release the ball before the feet return to the floor is
considered a traveling violation.
Another common shot is called the lay-up. This shot requires the player to be in motion toward the
basket, and to "lay" the ball "up" and into the basket, typically off the backboard (the backboard-free,
underhand version is called a finger roll). The most crowd-pleasing and typically highest-percentage
accuracy shot is the slam dunk, in which the player jumps very high and throws the ball downward,
through the basket while touching it.
Another shot that is becoming common[citation needed] is the "circus shot". The circus shot is a low-
percentage shot that is flipped, heaved, scooped, or flung toward the hoop while the shooter is off-
balance, airborne, falling down, and/or facing away from the basket. A back-shot is a shot taken
when the player is facing away from the basket, and may be shot with the dominant hand, or both;
but there is a very low chance that the shot will be successful.
A shot that misses both the rim and the backboard completely is referred to as an air ball. A
particularly bad shot, or one that only hits the backboard, is jocularly called a brick. The hang time is
the length of time a player stays in the air after jumping, either to make a slam dunk, lay-up or jump
shot.
Rebounding
Main article: Rebound (basketball)
The objective of rebounding is to successfully gain possession of the basketball after a missed field
goal or free throw, as it rebounds from the hoop or backboard. This plays a major role in the game,
as most possessions end when a team misses a shot. There are two categories of rebounds:
offensive rebounds, in which the ball is recovered by the offensive side and does not change
possession, and defensive rebounds, in which the defending team gains possession of the loose
ball. The majority of rebounds are defensive, as the team on defense tends to be in better position to
recover missed shots.
Passing
See also: Assist (basketball)
A pass is a method of moving the ball between players. Most passes are accompanied by a step
forward to increase power and are followed through with the hands to ensure accuracy.
A staple pass is the chest pass. The ball is passed directly from the passer's chest to the receiver's
chest. A proper chest pass involves an outward snap of the thumbs to add velocity and leaves the
defence little time to react.
Another type of pass is the bounce pass. Here, the passer bounces the ball crisply about two-thirds
of the way from his own chest to the receiver. The ball strikes the court and bounces up toward the
receiver. The bounce pass takes longer to complete than the chest pass, but it is also harder for the
opposing team to intercept (kicking the ball deliberately is a violation). Thus, players often use the
bounce pass in crowded moments, or to pass around a defender.
The overhead pass is used to pass the ball over a defender. The ball is released while over the
passer's head.
The outlet pass occurs after a team gets a defensive rebound. The next pass after the rebound is
the outlet pass.
The crucial aspect of any good pass is it being difficult to intercept. Good passers can pass the ball
with great accuracy and they know exactly where each of their other teammates prefers to receive
the ball. A special way of doing this is passing the ball without looking at the receiving teammate.
This is called a no-look pass.
Another advanced style of passing is the behind-the-back pass, which, as the description implies,
involves throwing the ball behind the passer's back to a teammate. Although some players can
perform such a pass effectively, many coaches discourage no-look or behind-the-back passes,
believing them to be difficult to control and more likely to result in turnovers or violations.
Dribbling
Height
At the professional level, most male players are above 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) and most women
above 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m). Guards, for whom physical coordination and ball-handling skills are
crucial, tend to be the smallest players. Almost all forwards in the top men's pro leagues are 6 feet
6 inches (1.98 m) or taller. Most centers are over 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m) tall. According to a
survey given to all NBA teams,[when?] the average height of all NBA players is just under 6 feet
7 inches (2.01 m), with the average weight being close to 222 pounds (101 kg). The tallest players
ever in the NBA were Manute Boland Gheorghe Mureșan, who were both 7 feet 7 inches (2.31 m)
tall. The tallest current NBA player is Sim Bhullar, who stands at 7 feet 5 inches (2.26 m). At 7 feet
2 inches (2.18 m), Margo Dydek was the tallest player in the history of the WNBA.
The shortest player ever to play in the NBA is Muggsy Bogues at 5 feet 3 inches (1.60 m).[50] Other
short players have thrived at the pro level. Anthony "Spud" Webb was just 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m)
tall, but had a 42-inch (1.1 m) vertical leap, giving him significant height when jumping. While shorter
players are often at a disadvantage in certain aspects of the game, their ability to navigate quickly
through crowded areas of the court and steal the ball by reaching low are strengths.
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The composition of race and ethnicity in the National Basketball Association (NBA) has changed
throughout the league's history. The first non-white player entered the league in 1947.[51] According
to racial equality activist Richard Lapchick, the NBA in 2011 was composed of 78
percent black players, 17 percent white players, four percent Latinos (of any race), and one
percent Asian.[52]
Hall of Fame player Larry Bird, who is white, stated in 2004 that the league needed more white
players since the league's fans are mostly white. "And if you just had a couple of white guys in there,
you might get them [the fans, not the guys] a little excited. But it is a black man's game, and it will be
forever. I mean, the greatest athletes in the world are African-American," said Bird.[53][54]
Variations of basketball are activities based on the game of basketball, using common basketball
skills and equipment (primarily the ball and basket). Some variations are only superficial rules
changes, while others are distinct games with varying degrees of basketball influences. Other
variations include children's games, contests or activities meant to help players reinforce skills.
There are principal basketball sports with variations on basketball including Wheelchair
basketball, Water basketball, Beach basketball, Slamball, Streetball and Unicycle basketball. An
earlier version of basketball, played primarily by women and girls, was Six-on-six
basketball. Horseball is a game played on horseback where a ball is handled and points are scored
by shooting it through a high net (approximately 1.5m×1.5m). The sport is like a combination
of polo, rugby, and basketball. There is even a form played on donkeys known as Donkey
basketball, but that version has come under attack from animal rights groups.
Half-court
Perhaps the single most common variation of basketball is the half-court game, played in
informal settings without referees or strict rules. Only one basket is used, and the ball must
be "taken back" or "cleared" – passed or dribbled outside the three-point line each time
possession of the ball changes from one team to the other. Half-court games require
less cardiovascular stamina, since players need not run back and forth a full court. Half-court
raises the number of players that can use a court or, conversely, can be played if there is an
insufficient number to form full 5-on-5 teams.
Half-court basketball is usually played 1-on-1, 2-on-2 or 3-on-3. The latter variation is
gradually gaining official recognition as 3x3, originally known as FIBA 33. It was first tested
at the 2007 Asian Indoor Games in Macau and the first official tournaments were held at
the 2009 Asian Youth Games and the 2010 Youth Olympics, both in Singapore. The
first FIBA 3x3 Youth World Championships[55] were held in Rimini, Italy in 2011, with the
first FIBA 3x3 World Championships for senior teams following a year later in Athens. The
sport is highly tipped to become an Olympic sport as early as 2016.[56] In the summer of
2017, the BIG3 basketball league, a professional 3x3 half court basketball league that
features former NBA players, began. The BIG3 features several rule variants including
a four-point field goal.[57]
There are also other basketball sports, such as:
Fantasy basketball
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Main article: Fantasy basketball
Fantasy basketball was popularized during the 1990s after
the advent of the Internet. Those who play this game are
sometimes referred to as General Managers, who draft
actual NBA players and compute their basketball statistics. The
game was popularized by ESPN Fantasy Sports, NBA.com,
and Yahoo! Fantasy Sports. Other sports websites provided
the same format keeping the game interesting with participants
actually owning specific players.